Elevated tank



Oct. 7, 1958 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 I R. G. STURM 2,855,121

ELEVATED TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

a zz/ewa BY R. G. STURM ELEVATED TANK Oct. 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 i M L55: 3:15

ELEVATED TANK Rolland G. Storm, Auburn, Ala, assignor to Graver Tank & Mfg. Co., Inn, East Chicago, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application August 25, 1955, Serial No. 530,437

6 Claims. (Cl. 220-18) The invention relates to elevated tanks and particularly to tanks of relatively large capacities where it is desirable to have a small head range, that is, a minimum vertical variation between the heads of liquid in the full and empty conditions.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an elevated tank of the type described, having desirable head stability and simple supporting arrangement that eliminates the necessity of sway bracing, both during construction and in service.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevated tank of the type described, having a single-element supporting riser and a main storage compartment arranged to surround the upper portion of the riser.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide an elevated tank of the type described with simple and effective attachment means between the riser and the main storage compartment.

It is a further specific object of the invention to provide an elevated tank of the type described with a filling and evacuating downcomer that is co-extensive with the supporting riser thereby oifering a reserve product supply.

It is yet a further specific object of the invention to provide an elevated tank of the type described with a downcomer that is independent of a single-supporting riser, whereby the internal area of the riser may be utilized as a storage or pump house. In this embodiment the upper part of the riser is properly closed off so it will serve as a part of the main product storage compartment.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description and from an examination of the concerned drawings, where- 1n:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of the novel, elevated tank,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 only illustrating another embodiment 'of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Directing attention to Figure 1, it will be seen that the tank comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a cylindrical riser 10, said riser being flared outwardly at 12, adjacent the base thereof, to provide a broad footing or support for the entire structure. A main compartment 14 is mounted at the upper end of the riser 10, said main compartment 14 serving as a primary storage place for the product which the tank will contain. As is best shown in Figure 3, the main compartment 14 is preferably of substantially toroid form, that is, similar in formation to what is commonly known as a doughnut. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to a pure toroid form and that other geometrical forms may be reasonably employed in the construction of res Patent "ice 2,855,121 Fatented Oct. 7, 1958 the main compartment. fabricated of rolled plates arranged to taper inwardly, or may be formed of plates dished in two directions. As is best seen in Figure 3, these plates are formed in truncated pie-shape having an outer ring 16 and an innor ring 20. A circumferential weld 22 joins the outer ring of plates 16 with the inner ring of plates 20. The upper portion of the toroid may be formed in a similar manner,

Again referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the toroid 14 may be provided with a supporting ring or member 26 annularly arranged around the inner periphery of the toroid, said ring preferably being thicker in cross section than either the adjacent wall of the toroid 16 or the adjacent wall of the riser 10. The member 26 is welded to the toroid at 28 and 30 and supported by and welded to the riser 10 as at 31.

Apertures 36 may be provided along the top of the toroid to accommodate entrance and exit of air during the filling and evacuation of the toroid main compartment. A breather vent or valve 38 is further provided on top of the covering roof or shell 40 to facilitate this breathing operation.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, a downcomer 42 is concentrically arranged within the cylindrical riser 10, said downcomer being connected (not shown) to both, a source of product and a main or the like which may be utilized for evacuation of the product. In the embodiment of Figure 3, a hemispherical shell 4-4 is provided at the top of the downcomer 42 and is arranged to communicate therewith. The shell 44 is secured to the internal periphery of the riser 10 as at 46, thereby providing a liquid-tight seal between the shell 44 and the riser 10.

At one side of the dished shell 44, a communicating pipe 48 is provided which extends through the wall of the riser 10 to the lowest point of the toroid 14, thereby providing means to drain the toroid in its entirety. It will thus be noted that in this embodiment, the product may be stored both within the toroid 14 and within the volume under the roof plate 40 and in the upper part of the riser 10, as well as in the downcomer 42.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention which may be utilized in tanks not requiring such an extremely large capacity, whereby different means of connection may be provided between the riser 10 and the toroid 14. It will be noted that in this embodiment a single weld 52 is suflicient to securely fasten the toroid 14 to the top of the riser 10 and that the carrying member 26 of the prior embodiment has been eliminated. A plurality of siphon pipes, one of which is illustrated at 54, are bent in hairpin form to assure complete drainage of the toroid 14, said siphon pipes extending from the lowest point of the toroid 14, above the connection between the toroid and the riser and then down within the riser to a point below said lowest point of the toroid 14. A covering shield 56 may be provided between the riser 10 and the outward curve of the lower portion of the toroid to prevent birds and the like from entering into the space between the toroid and the riser and to give the tank a more finished appearance.

It will be particularly noted that in this embodiment, the downcomer means which are provided to fill and evacuate the tank is co-extensive with the internal periphery of the riser 10. Thus it will be seen that this embodiment provides a very large reserve capacity for Water or other product. On the other hand, in the embodiment of Figure 3 with the independent downcomer, the riser shell 10 may be utilized as storage space or housing for pump equipment or the like.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a novel design The compartment 14 may be cal riser, a product containing compartment formed sub stantially in the shape of a toroid; said toroid having a central opening and a means'con'necting the top ofithe riser to the toroid around the periphery of the central opening.

2. An elevated tank according to claim 1, and includ ing means to drain the compartment, said last-mentioned means being co-extensive Withtheriser. n V n n M 3. An elevated tank according to claim-1, and Linclud:

It will also be understood that the inventionmay.

ing means to drain the compartment arranged concentrically with the riser.

4. In an elevated tank, a cylindrical riser having a flared base secured to the ground, a main'storage' compartment of doughnut-like formation having a central opening therethrough and located adjacent the upper end of the riser, means securing the top of the riser to the internal periphery of said central opening,- pas'sagemeans formed in the upper one-half of said compartment and establishing communication with the atmosphere; a cover plate connected to the compartment and shieldingsaid central opening, and downcomer means communicating with the upper open end of said riser to provide for the filling and evacuating of said compartment.

5'. An elevated tank-according to claim 4, wherein said means to connect the riser to the internal periphery of said opening comprises a carrying member fixedly secured to the top of the riser, and a plurality of spaced welding connections fixedly securing the member to said compartment.

6. In an elevated tank arrangement, a central riser having a base connected to the ground and extending upwardly therefrom, a main storage compartment of torus formation surrounding the upper end of the riser, means securing the compartment to the upper end of the riser, means to vent the compartment to atmosphere, means associated with the riser to fill and evacuate the compartment, said securing means comprising a member connected to the upper end of the riser, and at least a pair of linearly extended vertically spaced welds connecting the member to the inner periphery of a central opening'in said compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 130,858 DeVOre Dec. 23, 1941 1,865,822 Boardman July 5, 1932 1,946.493 Horton Feb. 13, 1934 1,947,515 Blackburn Feb. 20, 1934 2,314,442 Cook Mar. 23, 1943 2,720,694 Hines Oct. 18, 1955 

